Day: May 18, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) — Academician and social activist Prof Dr Wan Zawawi Ibrahim was laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, here, at about 2.17 pm today.

Earlier, the funeral prayers, led by his son Wan Hameerudin, were held at the At-Taqwa Mosque, Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Singer, Datuk Ramli Sarip, was also present to pay his last respects to the late Wan Zawawi.

Wan Zawawi, 75, died of a heart attack at about 6.47 am today, while preparing to perform the subuh (dawn) prayers at his residence in Section 11, Petaling Jaya.

He leaves behind his wife, Noorshah Mohd Salleh and three children.

Wan Zawawi also has another son from his previous marriage to Australian, Dr Leslie O’Brien, who now lives in Sydney.

One of his good friends, editor Gareth Richard, said that Wan Zawawi pioneered the study of culture in Malaysia, as well as being an outstanding anthropologist.

“In addition, he has done a lot of work around teaching critical social sciences, apart from being an inspiring teacher as well as a scholar and writer. After he left academic life, Wan (Zawawi) was still busy writing and researching until the last few weeks,” he told Bernama.

Before retiring, Wan Zawawi was a senior professor of anthropology at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Brunei Darussalam for 10 years.

Apart from being an academic and social activist, Wan Zawawi was also a singer and songwriter who had composed several songs with poetic lyrics and humanitarian elements that were sung either by him or by other singers.

Wan Zawawi composed the song ‘Perjalanan Hidup’ made popular by Ramli Sarip.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEREMBAN, May 18 (Bernama) — The Negeri Sembilan government is investigating the cause of floods in Johol, Kuala Pilah on Monday, believed to be due to forest clearing activities in the area.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, however, said logging activities were not the cause of the floods.

“I think it’s not because of logging activities because the area is being replanted with trees. There are no new logging activities so far and I need to check the matter.

“The floods were due to continuous heavy rain not only in Johol but also in Port Dickson, Seremban and other areas in the state,” he told a press conference after chairing the state executive council meeting here today.

In another development, Aminuddin said grain corn would be planted at the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) cattle breeding project site in Gemas, Tampin, covering 161 hectares of land.

“Today, the Negeri Sembilan MBI will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) for a joint venture project to plant grain corn under the Food Security Initiative Programme and hopefully it can reduce dependence on food imports,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) — The Look East Policy (LEP) will remain relevant as long as the specific focus on the policy is kept updated in light of the changes in the global and social circumstances, said Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Katsuhiko Takahashi.

Takahashi said the policy, which marked its 40th anniversary this year, would provide new momentum and could be further enhanced to underpin the Malaysia-Japan bilateral relationship that contributes to more progressive development of both nations.

“In order for the LEP to remain significant, I wish few aspects could be considered in order to update the policy. First, is to give a greater focus on the recovery from COVID-19.

“Malaysia is in transition into the endemic phase and economic revival remains a key concern. Japan may be able to work with Malaysia in the new technology areas, such as digital and green. These technologies are needed to tackle global challenges, such as environment and climate change, and they will bring about greater business opportunities.”

Takahashi briefed this in his opening remarks at Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia Webinar Forum titled “The 40th Anniversary of the Look East Policy: A Conversation with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad” held here, today.

Also present at the forum were ISIS Malaysia Chief Executive Herizal Hazri and Economic Geography Studies Group Institute of Development Economics (IDE-JETRO) Director, Satoru Kumagai.

Furthermore, the ambassador pointed out that Japan could learn a lot more from Malaysia about managing its diversity, which is rapidly becoming a core social issue in Japan.

“It is encouraged to learn that Malaysia as a moderate Muslim country, with multiple ethnic groups coexisting side by side, manages to achieve economic development and social stability to a large extent.

“I also wish to see more Japanese people coming to further their studies in Malaysia and gain greater exposure to the Malaysian culture. I believe that this will expand the significance of the LEP and its benefit will be sustained much longer,” he said.

Among other areas that both nations could deepen the discussion and unleash the greater potential of cooperation, is the mutual challenges that Malaysia is currently facing in which Japan has some advantages such as disaster risk reduction, water resources management, and aging society.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who conceived the LEP, in his remarks said a more comprehensive approach towards education under the LEP was needed to elevate the current Malaysia-Japan relations.

As the sector is deemed as the heart of the policy where Malaysia could learn and emulate the Japanese work ethics, Dr Mahathir said it was imperative to highlight the Japanese values through the education medium.

“With the help of the Japanese government, we initiated programmes to send students and government officials to Japan for further studies and training.

“When I left office in 2003, there were more than 10,000 Malaysians sent to Japan under the LEP programme. To date, the number has grown to over 26,000 Malaysians.

“I am proud that this concept has been a success. Many Malaysians sent to Japan have done tremendously well upon returning home. Yet the number of Malaysians sent to Japan today is a far cry from what it used to be. I believe we can and should do better.

“Therefore, I hope there would be a more comprehensive approach towards education under the Look East Policy and Malaysia-Japan relations as a whole. We should look at the Japanese education system starting at the pre-school level to university,” said Dr Mahathir.

The launching of LEP, a brainchild of Dr Mahathir marked a monumental shift in Malaysia’s economic, development and foreign policy.

Japan embraced the LEP, and it eventually became the de facto symbol of Malaysia-Japan relations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, May 18 (Bernama) — The alleged sale of personal details of 22.5 million Malaysians that went viral on social media was not from the National Registration Department (NRD), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

“We (at the ministry) have a mechanism to verify that the leaked data was not from the NRD.

“As in previous cases, the sale of data involves several agencies which we have given some leeway (for them) to obtain information from the department,” he told reporters at the Home Ministry’s open house today.

Hamzah said an investigation is being carried out by the ministry and found that the data sold was a collection of sellers from other sources.

“All individuals involved in the sale of personal data will be called in to assist in the investigation and the findings would be announced soon,” he said.

Following that, Hamzah said the standard operating procedure (SOP) to obtain personal data through the agencies under NRD will be reviewed.

“The NRD feels that there is a need for personal data to be obtained directly from the department concerned so that issues like this do not arise,” he said.

Earlier, it was reported that there were alleged sales of personal data of more than 22 million Malaysians, as well as, identification card verification snapshots of 800,000 individuals belonging to the NRD and Election Commission (EC) via online.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, May 18 (Bernama) — Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Selangor are still under control and there is no need to close nurseries, kindergartens and daycare centres in the state, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari .

He said any closures (nurseries, kindergartens and daycare centres) would be on the advice of the Selangor Health Department, especially given the increasing number of cases and the alarming infectivity.

“I will meet with the ministry (Ministry of Health) soon because there are things I want to ask more about HFMD. Indeed, the cases are increasing and the situation is under control but it has not reached the level where closures (nurseries, kindergartens and daycare centres) are needed,” he said at a press conference here today.

“Maybe after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season and so on we will see the effects again,” he said.

Yesterday, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said that Selangor recorded the highest number of HFMD cases at 8,864 which is 28 per cent of the overall cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya totalling 4,421 cases (14 per cent), Sabah 2,650 cases (8 per cent), Perak 2,638 cases (8 per cent) and Kelantan 2,493 cases (7.9 per cent), while other states reported less than 1,500 cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said the number of HFMD cases in the country had increased at an alarming rate from January to date, 15 times higher compared to the same period last year with 31,661 cases reported.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) — Only one in five patients manage to control hypertension, said Health director-general, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said that this puts 80 per cent of hypertensive patients at risk of severe complications including heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat and kidney problems.

In addition, Dr Noor Hisham said the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that about half of patients did not know they had hypertension.

“In this regard, World Hypertension Day 2022, themed ‘Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer’, aims to raise awareness and the importance of controlling blood pressure among the community,” he said in a statement, today.

In an effort to strengthen health screening activities among the people, Dr Noor Hisham said the Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with various ministries and agencies, would organise the National Health Screening initiative starting in July.

The MOH, through the programme, hoped the public would come forward to do health screening so that prevention and control could be done earlier.

In conjunction with World Hypertension Day this year, the MOH also called on the community to take C.E.R.D.I.K. measures, which are to get fit by doing physical activity or exercise at a moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

In addition, avoid alcohol consumption because excessive consumption is associated with hypertension, quit smoking and do not start smoking for non-smokers, as well as practising a balanced diet with the concept of ‘Pinggan Sihat Malaysia’, and limiting salt intake to no more than one teaspoon a day to reduce the risk of hypertension, heart disease and stroke.

The community is also urged to achieve and maintain an ideal weight as being overweight can increase the risk of hypertension, as well as managing and coping with stress well, indirectly reducing high blood pressure thereby preventing complications.

MOH also hoped that Hypertension Day 2022 will increase the level of public awareness and knowledge on the importance of blood pressure testing and the dangers of the disease to health, and further change behaviour to prevent and control hypertension.

“Check your own health status and practice C.E.R.D.I.K. measures because health belongs to all of us. Control blood pressure to live a more prosperous life,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, May 18 (Bernama) — The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project is expected to cause some congestion in the city centre here, says Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman.

He said this was because the contractors had begun carrying out construction work including the procedure to transfer utility infrastructure.

“There will be some congestion in Johor Bahru after this when the RTS project begins moving aggressively because the contractors and sub-contractors appointed are carrying out the work simultaneously.

“This means that the area in Stulang Laut, R&F Mall JB shopping centre to the RTS area in Bukit Chagar will see development work moving in full swing,” he told reporters when met at the MBJB Aidilfitri Open House here, today.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was also present.

Therefore, Mohd Noorazam hoped that the people in Johor Bahru could remain patient as the project would be beneficial to the people of Johor as well as the country in general.

“This project is expected to be completed in 2024 for the infrastructure phase and will be fully completed in 2026. The safety of the people of Johor Bahru will be taken into account because this project also involves building structures up to 25 metres in height.

“It is possible that traffic on certain routes will be diverted, but it has not been finalised,” he said.

The RTS line is a four-kilometre rail network connecting the Bukit Chagar Station, Johor Bahru and Woodlands in Singapore.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency